The Des Moines Music Coalition made its initial lineup announcement for 80/35 this week, and it included headliners The Decemberists and Nas. Also among the bands announced were Lotus, Wolf [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Sound Notes
Posted April 06, 2016in Sound Circuit, Sound Circuit - Online Exclusive
He ain’t heavy
For years, Aaron Earl Short has been known as half of the husband and wife duo The High Crest, where his sharply honest lyrics and bluesy sound have drawn fans [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in The Sound
Straight outta flatbush
As far as the rap persona goes, Flatbush Zombies are a bit of an outlier. The idea of getting high is nothing new to hip-hop. But while the Zombies still [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Featured Story, Homepage Cover Story, Political Mercury
Grassley says guns OK on Republican convention floor
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, tells Political Mercury he’s leading efforts on a bill that would allow delegates to carry firearms into the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in July. Ohio is an open-carry [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Civic Skinny, Featured Story
Four good men: Ward Reynoldson, Dick Jacobson, Joe Garagiola and Bob Hudson
Ward Reynoldson For the past 40 years or so, I have kept a small picture of Ward Reynoldson on my desk at home. It was taken at a picnic [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Your View
Will Bill’s sex scandals hurt Hillary Clinton?
The answer is no. Why? People don’t care if public figures are exposed for doing what the electorate is doing without the accompanying publicity. Right-wing fundamentalists are willing to publicize [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Featured Story, Locker Room
Fast and furriest
Think of physical education class back in grade school when the teacher would have you sprint back and forth to see who was the fastest in the class. If [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Rap Sheet
Two of a kind
Twista, 42, was arrested hours before a performance in Indiana for possession of marijuana on March 25. Twista, known for his 20-year rap career, was one of three passengers [...]
Read More →
Posted April 06, 2016in Sound Check
Weezer “Weezer” (The White Album) Crush Music There was a point when Weezer set the bar too high for itself with the back-to-back thunderbolts of “Pinkerton” and the self-titled release [...]
Read More →
Oyez! Oyez! Oyez! God save Iowa and our Honorable Courts
The “Oyez” cry — a French/Middle English version of “Hear Ye!” — is heard at the start of U.S. Supreme Court sessions, but it could well serve as an announcement [...]
Read More →